After months of hanging around literally doing nothing because they have no places to go or people to see, the unemployed will eventually get the itch to go somewhere, anywhere, just so they can get away from…doing nothing. For those with a car or the ability to afford a cheap rental, the idea of a road trip starts formulating in the back of there head. At first it starts off as an excuse just to get somewhere for relatively cheap – but then it slowly builds into a sort of escapism because everyone knows that there’s nothing like the open road to heal the unemployed’s mind.
Eventually the need to go on a road trip starts to nag at the unemployed until they’re finally forced to make some semblance of a plan – or at least choose a destination. Depending on where they’re going their must-do activities might range from visiting well known museums to eating greasy food at roadside diners to being creeped out in a ghost town to exploring a historic/natural landmark while it’s still there to actively seeking out Big Foot to just getting drunk and disorderly wherever they might end up. Really, there’s nothing stopping the unemployed as long as they have enough money to keep pumping gas in their car.
Part of the allure besides exploring the oddities of their motherland is just disconnecting themselves from the everyday “grind.” No more reading the same job postings for the same lame jobs, no more being bored out of their minds in front of the computer waiting for someone to email, no more running to answer a telemarketer’s call hoping it’s a potential employer. Nope, once they’re on the road and far away from civilization – or at least away from their computers (smartphones are okay because the presumption is there’s not going to be good enough reception wherever they’re headed to anyway) – the unemployed are free to concentrate on themselves, their thoughts, and — oh wait, maybe a road trip isn’t the best idea to find oneself or figure out life. Regardless, the unemployed will still set out on their epic journey because they have time, and what else do they have to do?
And on that note, dear readers, after 26 weeks of straight unemployed blogging, SUPL may or may not be missing in action for a bit, until the next unemployment check comes, because a road trip is calling and what the hell, might as well answer. During this time please feel free to peruse the archives of Stuff Unemployed People Like and spread the shame/glory to friends. In the off chance that AT&T’s 3G network actually works, follow SUPL’s journey on Twitter. Toodles!
Tags: killing time, things to do when unemployed, travel deals, Unemployed Activities, unemployment road trip
Copyright © 2012 Stuff Unemployed People Like All rights reserved. Amazing Grace theme by
Good luck and God bless! I did this trip with a friend who was also laid off. We did the trip in March for close to 4 weeks. If we didn’t have to return the car rental by a certain date we probably would have stayed out longer.
The trip was an incredible experience and one hopefully I can do again with more money in my pocket. It’s something you’ll treasure and remember for years and a much better “thing to do” instead of sitting in front of the computer sending more resumes to unresponsive companies….like what I’m doing right now. lol
Have fun!
You just described my situation perfectly. I dont really have a plan tho, just headed south, then east. Maybe ill find some interesting work.
What a great idea, I think a road trip would be fun, and a challenge, doing it on a budget.